During the second-ever official visit by an Israeli minister to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi arrived in Riyadh on Monday evening, leading an Israeli delegation to the extraordinary Universal Postal Union conference for 2023.

Karhi, accompanied by the Chairman of the Knesset's Economic Committee David Bitan, made the trip less than a week after his Likud party colleague, Haim Katz, became the first Israeli minister to visit.

These visits come as Israel and Saudi Arabia approach an agreement to normalize relations in a deal brokered by the United States, which, if finalized, would represent a historic breakthrough for Israel's standing in the Middle East.

Karhi and Bitan's delegation includes 14 members, including representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the postal service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Karhi's office.

Karhi's office stated that he will deliver a speech at the conference and meet with the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney, and other global figures including the Turkish communications minister.

Karhi's office indicated that the Communications Minister also received an invitation to visit the home of Mohammed Saud, a prominent supporter of Israel in Riyadh.

“We are here during the holiday of Sukkot, at an international conference. Karhi said in a video statement after landing in Riyadh: “We will meet representatives from around the world, and we will bring peace closer between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Bitan stated, “Everything starts with small steps, and this is the beginning. We will see how things develop in favor of the State of Israel and peace in the Middle East.”

Karhi and Bitan are members of the ruling Likud party, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The conference is scheduled to take place at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and will conclude on Thursday.

The Universal Postal Union is a UN agency that coordinates international postal policies. The union stated that this year's conference will focus on issues including proposals related to climate change and the future of postal financial services.

This year's extraordinary conference is only the fourth in the union's nearly 150-year history, with the last one held in 2019 in Switzerland.

Last Tuesday, Tourism Minister Katz visited Saudi Arabia to attend a United Nations World Tourism Organization conference, becoming the first minister to lead an official delegation to the country.

Earlier last month, an Israeli delegation consisting of nine officials traveled to Saudi Arabia as observers at a meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The delegation was headed by the head of the Israeli Antiquities Authority and included diplomats, according to an Israeli official.

These trips come as the Biden administration actively engages both Riyadh and Jerusalem in an effort to broker a normalization agreement between the two countries. As part of this framework, Saudi Arabia is also requesting the United States to conclude a major mutual defense agreement and large arms deals, as well as Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday that a “basic framework” had been reached regarding the agreement, but emphasized that the “complex” arrangement would require “compromise” from all parties.

In a speech last month before the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is “on the verge” of a historic deal with Saudi Arabia.

These comments came days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, told Fox News that “every day we get closer” to normalizing his country's relations with Israel, clarifying that the Palestinian issue remains “a very important issue.” “Part of the process and the announcement that Saudi Arabia would have to acquire a nuclear weapon if Iran did so.

A report on Sunday indicated that the Israeli army has begun studying the military implications for Israel in the event of a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The “Walla” news site reported that the study will consider the potential consequences of the deal, including options for partnership and cooperation, alongside the risks to Israel's security.